Travel Eye on Albena (Bulgaria)

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Overview:

The resort of Albena with its 5 km long and 150 m wide beach is lying in a picturesque bay only 30 km from Varna and 502km north-east of Sofia. Albena is an ecological resort with a rare combination of fresh air, crystal clear sea and mineral water, remedial herbs, various natural products and perfectly organised Medical and Spa Centre make Albena a perfect location for family holidays.
Most of the hotels have a terraceline structure with well-projected stories. The concept of this architecture is getting more sun in summer days. The resort has three camping sites -Albena, International and Ekzotika, which offer great opportunities for housing tourists and holidaymakers. The river of Batov is interesting with its location in a natural forest. To the north the shore is steep, formed of the yellow sandstone and limestone typical of the area. It is these stone slopes that gave the material for building the resort. The centre is compact, stretching ½ ml along the coast, and it's easy to get about on foot, with the splendid beach never that far from the central hotels. The demise of the old Communist regime has caused, among other things, much unemployment and Albena, like other holiday spots, is now seen by many Bulgarians as a haven for making money from the increasing numbers of "rich" Western tourists. Evidence of this varies from benign stalls, kiosks and beachside snack bars in hot competition with one another to black-market currency exchange and prostitution. Unfortunately for a resort billed as being family orientated, the latter is a sad addition to an otherwise lovely man made resort.

Locality:

Albena is reasonably flat in the centre and beside the beach, the town rises into lush and thickly wooded hills beyond the coastal bypass at the back of town. Albena is the most northerly of Bulgaria's beach resorts, facing E out to sea. 4 mls N of Golden Sands 25 mls NE of Varna and its airport.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Albena is a popular destination amongst budget to middlemarket visitors not seeking Western-style sophistication or standards. Good value attracts mature couples and younger families, although there is little for children to do. Many will not wish to endure the sleazier side of Albena that unfortuately is present in the area. The resort's jewel in the crown is a 4 mile stretch of broad golden sand bordered, where it counts, by a promenade ostensibly closed to public vehicles and lined with a variety of snack bars and ice-cream stalls. Parasols and sunbeds are available for daily hire. There is also a wide choice of water sports including motorised 2-man hang-gliders and paragliding. Sea is child friendly, and there is an ever-watchful army of lifeguards on the beach. Accommodation here is mostly mid-range 3-star offerings, but mediocre by Western standards in both design and quality, with many properties mass produced in almost identical slab-like concrete fashion. There is a 17-storey, 4-star Hotel Dobrudja, dominating the centre which is easily the largest and best equipped in hotel in the town.

Shoppers will be somewhat dissapointed as the town is severely lacking in quality and choice. Limited to locally produced handicrafts, linen, bootleg CDs and paintings-while-u-wait from a motley collection of stalls and kiosks that line both sides of the pedestrianised main street, promenade and footpaths to the beach. The small Bazaar shopping precinct offers little more than a few shops selling local souvenirs and alcohol, with 1 department store.

Popular excursions (although recommended to be booked through a travel agent) include: Full day trips to Varna and its dolphinarium. 2 days plus: Sofia; Istanbul by air; Cairo by air.

General facilities in the area include:

. 8 football fields
. 17 tennis courts (4 indoor)
. 25 swimming pools with mineral water (4 indoor)
. 12-alley bowling hall
. 9 beach volleyball grounds
. A modern horse riding club
. A modern multifunctional sports hall, where 11 different sports can be exercised at one and the same time.
. Bars, casinos, restaurants with entertainment performed by famous actors and actress
. Playgrounds for children
. Bicycles and riding horses, stunts with horses and cascade tricks
. Rented automobiles, cutters, sail-boats, yachts, waterwheels and jets

There has been developed a whole range of water sports with the assistance of coaches and equipment.
Albena has a Congress Centre, which provides the preparation, organization and holding of congress and business events in Albena Resort and coordinates all activities associated with these events within the resort area.